Part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the facility is being delivered by Vanguard Healthcare Solutions using modern modular construction methods, enabling a faster and more efficient build programme while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability.
Representatives from Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions gathered for an informal ceremony to mark the start of on-site groundworks, with construction of the building modules taking place simultaneously at Vanguard’s manufacturing facility.
Located on the Wonford House site in Exeter, the dedicated research centre will support the delivery of both commercial and non-commercial clinical research studies across a broad range of specialties, including mental health, dementia, children, and adolescent mental health services, and physical health conditions experienced by people living with mental illness.
The facility forms part of the Trust’s wider strategy to increase research participation and address inequalities in access to clinical trials. Research undertaken through the NHS England Research Engagement Network Development project identified lower participation in research among people with mental health conditions compared with those with physical health conditions, as well as lower participation among men, younger people, and people living in more deprived and rural communities.
The facility will include:
- A dedicated laboratory and clinical trials pharmacy designed to support the secure storage and preparation of investigational medicinal products and biological samples.
- A physical health assessment and infusion room equipped to support a broad range of clinical research studies.
- Specially designed therapy rooms, including a group therapy space, suitable for mental health, dementia and psychedelic research programmes.
Andy Willis, chair of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, said: “This is a great opportunity for a new build. We’ve been building things at Wonford and within the Trust for the last few years and this is another step forward. It’s a great opportunity to do something with the University of Exeter as well, in terms of the intellectual development of the organisation, and we look forward to working with Vanguard, who are going to do a great job for us, I’m sure.”
Tobit Emmens, associate director of Research and Development at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, commented: “We have wanted a specific place to do research for about 20 years. This gives us an opportunity to make research more available to all sorts of people – dementia research, mental health research and more. We’re going to be building our mood disorder research clinic here, working with the University of Exeter and creating opportunities to trial novel treatments. We hope to play a small part in one day finding cures for conditions such as dementia and developing better treatments for anxiety and depression.”
Graham Rich, chair of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, said: “We’re delighted to have been trusted to bring our modular construction expertise to Wonford House. Everyone who works for Vanguard has a strong sense of purpose in what we do, and we’re proud to be supporting a research facility that will broaden access to clinical research for people with different mental health conditions and backgrounds.”